Dual Spec Info Finally Released

So the long awaited announcement (and explanation) of the Dual Spec system has come. The official site has posted a Q&A session between Nethaera and Ghostcrawler, talking in detail about the mechanics of the upcoming system.

For the benefit of our readers, I've included a quick summary of the more exciting points here on our blog. Check them out after the break, and leave your comments on how they did it (or how they should have done it)!

Dual spec is max-level only. They may expand it to lower level characters if it proves popular.

Learning the "dual-spec" ability requires a one-time fee, paid to your trainer. No word yet on how much it might be.

You can switch your spec at any Lexicon of Power. These exist in every major city, and players with the Inscription profession will be able to create an item that summons one. The item will be purchaseable by other players.

Anyone can use the Lexicon it creates, but summoning one requires a multi-player ritual. Basically, solo players can switch specs by going back to town. Groups or raids can switch specs during a run by using this item.

No decision has been made yet on whether or not the item is re-usable.

Respeccing will reset your current talent profile, it won't reset your alternate spec. To reset them both you'll have to pay twice.Blizzard is implementing a "Gear Manager", which seems to duplicate the simpler functions of addons like Outfitter. It won't automatically switch your gear, but they seem to imply that it will let you put on pre-determined sets of gear with one click. More info coming.The respec cost for hunter pets is being removed.Hunters are getting a new core ability that lets you remotely access your stable, allowing you to switch out of Beast Mastery (and stable/replace your Exotic pet) without having to head back to town. The ability will have a long cooldown.You will now have two sets of Glyphs, one for each of your two talent specs.You will be able to swap hotbar configurations at the same time you swap specs.You will now be able to click around with your talents in game without saving them permanently. Goodbye talent calculator...we hardly knew ye.Two specs only.

For more details, you can read the original Q&A session on the official site here.

Comentario de Hospy

Comentario de theonelegend

Trust me, the need for talent calc won't go away! I have Talent Planner in game, but sometimes you just want to see things in a relaxing enviroment where no one can bother you :)

Comentario de Ghoso

on 2009-02-12T13:11:17-06:00

Queue gloom and doom from non-hybrid classes.

pvp and pve specs?

i say this change cant come soon enough.

Comentario de theonelegend

on 2009-02-12T13:15:43-06:00

Queue gloom and doom from non-hybrid classes.

pvp and pve specs?

i say this change cant come soon enough.

agreed, I'd love to get back into pvp a bit, but I'm neither interested in pvp with my raid spec nor willing to pay 50g each time I want to get back. So pvp is on the back burner until this feature hits.

Comentario de CanadianSniper

on 2009-02-12T13:20:35-06:00

booo hisss at "Dual spec is max-level only". Still, I like this change :)

Comentario de Deadmonkey

on 2009-02-12T13:21:14-06:00

Finally being able to spec 100% for dps and have another spec specced 100% to tank on my dk, instead of having to have a weird dual role spec so I can MT or DPS without having to respec 20 times a week.

And most of all finally our priest or druid being able to go shadow/balance on the fly when we dont have enough dps on (YES ITS A PROBLEM IN MY GUILD LOL)

Comentario de Paah

on 2009-02-12T13:25:48-06:00

Dual spec is max-level only. They may expand it to lower level characters if it proves popular.

I like very much. I hope they don't expand it to lower levels. For someone like me, it would be pretty unfair. I'm leveling my priest as holy spec, and that is obviously bit harder than shadow, though its still easier than most of classes. But my point is, that I'm doing it so I would get lot of dungeon runs. Now if dual-spec would be available to low lvls, any shabby shadow priest could join instance as healer and just go change his/her spec. For free.Dual spec for lower levels would just make using any other talent build than the "best one for leveling" very stupid, because you could always have healing / tanking / pvp or any other spec there for free when you would need it.

And for the other changes, like individual glyphs and action bars... I'd have been very disappointed with Blizzard if they wouldn't be there.

Comentario de Eluneril

on 2009-02-12T13:40:32-06:00

Wow, I was expecting them to handle this a LOT better.

The max level thing is ridiculous for a start. I was SO looking forward to being able to switch out of Tanking and Fury once I hit Outlands on my Warrior. Guess not.

And the Lexicon of Power thing? Eugh. Fair enough in the cities, I'd have MUCH rather it having a long CD changing out of cities or whatnot. Not everyone is a hardcore raider with a scribe always next to them. Or perhaps even paying some amount of gold to change out of cities (Yes, I'd even prefer that)

Yes, this is essentially me taking everything for granted and yes it's better than nothing and yes this is QQ.

But I'm still severly dissapointed.

Comentario de ISIG

on 2009-02-12T13:44:17-06:00

Dual spec is max-level only. They may expand it to lower level characters if it proves popular.

I like very much. I hope they don't expand it to lower levels. For someone like me, it would be pretty unfair. I'm leveling my priest as holy spec, and that is obviously bit harder than shadow, though its still easier than most of classes. But my point is, that I'm doing it so I would get lot of dungeon runs. Now if dual-spec would be available to low lvls, any shabby shadow priest could join instance as healer and just go change his/her spec. For free.Times have changed. Just because it wasn't available in the past shouldn't be a argument not to implement it for lower levels as well. PvE players can even switch to PvP realms, so I guess Blizzard doesn't care if it's fair or not.

I welcome this change because it increases the popularity of healers and tanks once again. As a healer I can switch to Shadow to finish questing in Icecrown and do some dailies.

Comentario de noriega

on 2009-02-12T13:59:49-06:00

now hybrid classes will be actually useful as hybrids

making guild runs is going to be so much easier when every paladin shaman and druid can switch to holy/resto , or prot/feral for pallies and druids.

hopefully that means more of us getting into guild runs and less pugging for gear

either way everything in the q & a is everything i was hoping it would be. definitely glad the gear and action bars will be easily switchable

maybe lower it to 60 or 70, and gain 1 point for each when you level

either way im stoked

Comentario de slmyrs

on 2009-02-12T14:00:26-06:00

All I ask is that sites like here at Wowhead do not remove the talent calculators, it gives me something to look at and plan when I am unable to be in game. All in all, I am looking forward to this change, respeccing has gotten to be very expensive.

Comentario de Malgayne

on 2009-02-12T14:13:43-06:00

I'm leveling my priest as holy spec, and that is obviously bit harder than shadow, though its still easier than most of classes. But my point is, that I'm doing it so I would get lot of dungeon runs. Now if dual-spec would be available to low lvls, any shabby shadow priest could join instance as healer and just go change his/her spec. For free..

I'm curious about this. Why would that be a bad thing? Wouldn't it be just the same as saying that you could now level your priest more easily, for free?

Comentario de Neffi

on 2009-02-12T14:18:06-06:00

Wow, I was expecting them to handle this a LOT better.

I agree. I don't like that it's going to be so damned constrained. While it's necessary to have some restriction so people can't macro "switch to resto, heal, switch to feral" or even exploit it to a lesser extent, it definitely doesn't need the level of restriction they're throwing on it. It's going to still be a major annoyance to hybrid classes to have to go to major cities when their solo- or small-group-play warrants a respec.

Comentario de trogodor

on 2009-02-12T14:18:34-06:00

ok... this is awesome and all.But what about WHEN it comes out?

Comentario de Sieben

on 2009-02-12T14:18:57-06:00

This better not mean players in heroics/groups will roll on both dps and healing/tanking gear. You know you always get retards that love an excuse to roll on anything at all.

If anything, there should be a cooldown on when you can swap specs.

Comentario de ISIG

on 2009-02-12T14:19:11-06:00

All I ask is that sites like here at Wowhead do not remove the talent calculators, it gives me something to look at and plan when I am unable to be in game. All in all, I am looking forward to this change, respeccing has gotten to be very expensive.

Malgayne made a joke. ;) The change doesn't make the talent calculator obsolete.

Comentario de celerno

on 2009-02-12T14:20:15-06:00

warlocks should pay 10 shards, not gold :)...

Comentario de Neffi

on 2009-02-12T14:20:29-06:00

Now if dual-spec would be available to low lvls, any shabby shadow priest could join instance as healer and just go change his/her spec. For free.

Any low-level shadow priest can heal an instance just fine. Even the hybrids can handle low-level healing just by switching out a few pieces of gear. Specs become mandatory primarily at and near the level cap.